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‘Super PAC’ Makes Some Intriguing Bets on Romney

Mitt Romney may have had a bad run in polls in recent weeks, but he still has supporters who are bullish about his chances in some states that President Obama won handily in 2008.

Restore Our Future, the “super PAC” supporting Mr. Romney, is investing $1.5 million on ads in Michigan and Wisconsin, according to a media buyer who monitors spending in battleground states.

The investment suggests that for all the advantages Mr. Obama has had coming out of the nominating conventions, Mr. Romney can rely on one clear advantage he has over Democrats: outside groups with much more money to spend supporting his candidacy and tactically placing their bets in states where they believe he has a chance to win.

Restore Our Future’s $720,000 investment in Michigan is particularly remarkable. Mr. Romney’s campaign and his other allies seem to have all but given up on the state, even though the candidate grew up there and his father, George Romney, was once governor. The Romney campaign itself, which is running state-specific spots in those states it ostensibly considers to be the most in play, left Michigan off that list.

Other outside groups that back Mr. Romney, including American Crossroads, have also stopped advertising in Michigan.

Despite Mr. Romney’s ties to the state, he has struggled to get beyond his opposition to the auto bailout, and election forecasters widely view the state as likely to go for Mr. Obama, who won in Michigan by 16 percentage points in 2008.

A spokeswoman for Restore Our Future declined to comment, saying the super PAC does not address ad purchases that have not been finalized. But the ability of super PACs to raise and spend freely gives them flexibility to invest in some long shots. And it could also provoke the Obama campaign to spend some precious ad dollars on a state it considers relatively safe.

In Wisconsin, Restore Our Future’s ad purchase of $820,000, according to the buyer, is an amplification of the Romney campaign’s efforts. After initially investing in eight states after the convention, the Romney camp bought ad time in a ninth, Wisconsin, to much fanfare. The campaign believes the selection of Representative Paul D. Ryan, from Wisconsin, as Mr. Romney’s running mate has improved the ticket’s chances there.

A version of this article appears in print on 09/18/2012, on page A11 of the NewYork edition with the headline: ‘Super PAC’ Places $1.5 Million Bet on Romney in Michigan and Wisconsin.

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